Type and hit ENTER
  • HOME
  • CATEGORY
    • Japanese Apartment Life
    • Moving Tips
    • Interior Design
    • Local Area Guides
  • COMPANY
  • PRIVACY POLICY
GET CONNECTED
Facebook
Instagram
  • HOME
  • Japanese Apartment Life
  • Moving Tips
  • Interior Design
  • Local Area Guides
  • Village House

ENG

  • 日本語
  • ENG
  • PT
  • VI
Moving Tips

Moving to Japan? Things You Should Know About Renting in Japan

2022-02-14

Japan attracts so many foreigners for innumerable reasons; the culture, nature, the people, job opportunities, study opportunities, and much more! Amongst the excitement of moving to Japan, there are always going to be some challenges (though well worth it). One of these challenges may arise as you are finding apartments for rent in Japan and the additional fees that you may not know about.

Things can be a little harder to navigate when it comes to renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner because the system of getting an apartment in Japan is likely to vary in some ways to how you rent an apartment in your home country.

In addition to the rent in Japan, there are various additional fees you usually need to pay when getting an apartment in Japan. Whether you are moving to Japan or simply looking for somewhere different to rent in Japan, these costs can sneak up on you.

Some of these include but aren’t limited to a deposit, key money, a renewal fee, and a handling fee. On the flip side, however, you can avoid extra costs by going through agents that waive some of these additional fees. If you would like to find apartments for rent in Japan that don’t have these extra charges, please take a look at our available apartments.

High-rise buildings

Renting an Apartment in Japan as a Foreigner

There are additional things to consider when first moving to Japan. Renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner can have its extra challenges since some rental properties don’t allow foreigners to rent – though these are often few and far between.

One of the challenges of renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner is securing a guarantor. A guarantor is required when you rent in Japan to provide some security if a contract is broken. A guarantor is normally a friend or relative who can vouch for you. If you do not have a Japanese-speaking friend or a relative in the country, then you may be able to use the services of a guarantor company. Some employers also offer to sign as a guarantor when hiring foreign employees. You may also be required to provide an emergency contact, especially if you are using a guarantor company.

768x300 EN

If you are looking for foreigner-friendly apartments for rent in Japan, please have a look at our properties that are currently available.

When you are getting an apartment in Japan, you can easily expect to pay four times the amount of your rent in fees in addition to your actual rent, so it is important to be prepared for those initial costs when you are moving to Japan. Below are some of the extra fees you may be expected to pay.

Concrete apartment buildings

Key Money

If you are in the process of moving to Japan you might come across an unfamiliar term, ‘key money’. Reikin (礼金), which is translated to key money, is a tradition that originated when there was a shortage of housing. It was originally a payment to the landlord so that tenants could express gratitude for being able to live on the property.

Nowadays, even though there is no shortage of housing, key money is still required for most apartments. Like the deposit, it is charged at the start of the contract, however, unlike a deposit, key money is non-refundable. The amount is usually equivalent to at least one month’s rent, but it can also be two or three months’ rent. It is a large amount of money to pay whilst making a move so it’s important to know ahead of time how much you may need to pay!

Thankfully, there are an increasing number of apartments for rent in Japan that do not require this. If you are getting an apartment in Japan and want to avoid the key money fees, please check out our Village House rental apartments.

768x300 EN

Deposit

The deposit is a fairly standard practice when you rent in Japan, as well as in other countries. Please consult your rental contract to find out about the conditions of the return of your deposit.

Generally, you will get your deposit back unless you have caused any damage to the apartment. However, a cleaning fee, a fee to change the locks, or even a fee to clean the air-conditioning unit can be taken out of this.

The deposit charge is usually equivalent to one month’s rent although this can vary.

Renewal Fee

Another one of the potentially unexpected charges when renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner is a renewal fee. If you would like to renew your contract once you reach the end of it, you may have to pay kōshinryō (更新料), which is a renewal fee. The renewal fee is also normally one month’s rent.

Apartment living room

Handling Fee

If a real estate company is used in the process of getting an apartment in Japan, you will probably have to pay a handling fee. This is also called a brokerage fee and like many of the other additional fees, the handling fee also tends to be the equivalent of one month’s rent. The handling fee actually cannot be more than the amount of one month’s rent.

Cleaning Fee

The cleaning fee is a charge you will probably have to pay at the end of your contract. At the end of a rental contract, the landlord or agency will pay professional cleaners to clean the apartment and this is not something that you can just do yourself instead.

The cleaning fee is normally taken out of the deposit, so it’s best not to expect to get all of your deposit back.

As well as these fees, sometimes you can be charged a maintenance fee, insurance, or a parking fee, but this isn’t always the case! Besides that, though there are various rental services where you will need to pay a lot of these fees, there are also agencies and services offering apartments for rent in Japan without all these upfront costs so please make sure to look around!

2022-02-14
Email
PREVIOUS POST
Local Area Guide: Saitama
NEXT POST
Apartment Energy Saving Tips
Image Not Found On Media Library

RANKING
  • thumbnail 2
    How to Save Money? Kakeibo!
    2022-07-25

    As a result of the increasing cost of living many of us are …

  • square ville jiro
    The Village House Mascot: Who is Ville-Jiro-Kun?
    2022-04-28

    A mascot is born! Introducing our Village House mascot; Vill…

  • Apartment room Plan
    Types of Apartments in Japan
    2022-04-11

    When looking for apartments in Japan, you’re likely to encou…

  • Energy saving solutions
    Apartment Energy Saving Tips
    2022-02-10

    Energy Saving More than ever people are looking into ener…

  • 0 7
    How to Properly Clean Your Apartment Walls
    2020-10-22

    You may think that cleaning your apartment is pretty straigh…

SEARCH
カテゴリー
  • Japanese Apartment Life

    Japanese Apartment Life

  • Moving Tips

    Moving Tips

  • Interior Design

    Interior Design

  • Local Area Guides

    Local Area Guides

CATEGORY
  • Japanese Apartment Life

    Japanese Apartment Life

  • Moving Tips

    Moving Tips

  • Interior Design

    Interior Design

  • Local Area Guides

    Local Area Guides

Image Not Found On Media Library

INSTAGRAM

villagehousejp

🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 「真名井の 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
「真名井の滝」は、全長17mを誇ります。見事な絶景です。ぜひ、ボートから眺めてみて下さいね!💦  🇬🇧 The stunning Manaino Falls are 17 meters high, and the best way to enjoy them is from a boat! 💦  🇧🇷 As impressionantes cataratas Manaino têm 17 metros de altura e a melhor forma de aproveitá-las é de um bote 💦  📸 @sanbonsuge1986
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 静岡は、と 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
静岡は、とてもいいところです!富士宮の蓮畑からは、富士山が見えます。
ビレッジハウス粟倉からは、車で約13分です。機会があれば、ぜひ訪れてみて下さいね。👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 The view of Mount Fuji from this hidden lotus field in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka is breathtaking! Just a 13 minutes' drive from Village House Awakura 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 A vista do monte Fuji deste campo escondido de flor de lótus em Fujinomiya, em Shizuoka, é de tirar o fôlego! A apenas 13 minutos de carro da Village House Awakura. 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!  📸 @dologame
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ こちらが「 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
こちらが「黄牛の滝」です。なんとも雄大ですよね!間近で見る事もできますが、濡れないように気をつけて下さいね!💦  🇬🇧 Ameushino Falls is majestic! You can approach, but be prepared to get splashed! 💦  🇧🇷 As Cataratas Ameushino são majestosas! Você pode chegar perto, mas prepare-se para se molhar! 💦  📸 @rikisan_0110
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 「高崎まつ 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
「高崎まつり大花火大会」は、毎年8月頃に開催されている花火大会です。群馬では、この花火大会をはじめ、様々なイベントが催されています。ビレッジハウスでは、群馬にも住まいをご用意しています。ぜひご検討下さい!👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 The Takasaki Fireworks Festival usually occurs every year in late summer. Located in Gunma, it is one of many fireworks festivals in the prefecture! Be sure to check our Village House listings to experience all the events Gunma has to offer! 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 O Festival de Fogos de Artifício de Takasaki geralmente ocorre todos os anos no final do verão. Localizado em Gunma, é um dos diversos festivais de fogos de artifício na província! Não deixe de conferir nossas ofertas de apartamentos na Village House para experienciar todos os eventos que Gunma tem a oferecer! 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 夏になると 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
夏になると、浄瑠璃寺の境内全体が緑で覆われます。見るだけで癒されますよ!  🇬🇧 During this time of the year, Joruri-ji Temple is submerged by lush green vegetation, a great place for a refreshing experience!  🇧🇷 Durante essa época do ano, o templo Joruri-ji fica submerso em uma vegetação verde e exuberante. Um ótimo lugar para uma experiência refrescante!  📸 @yukidon0822
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 世界第二位 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
世界第二位の長さを誇る「明石海峡大橋」が、ライトアップされています。なんて壮麗なんでしょう! 🌈  🇬🇧 A beautiful light-up view of the world's longest suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge! 🌈  🇧🇷 Uma linda vista Iluminada da maior ponte suspensa do mundo, a Ponte Akashi Kaikyo! 🌈  📸 @colu.426
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ 奈良公園で 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
奈良公園では、たくさんの野生の鹿が放し飼いされているんですよ!ぜひ、園内を散策してみて下さいね!🦌  🇬🇧 Let’s take a walk through Nara park! The wild deer are surprisingly tame! 🦌  🇧🇷 Vamos passear no parque de Nara! Os cervos selvagens são impressionantemente dóceis! 🦌  📸 @sharonros.e
🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️ ホウホウ! 🇬🇧EN 🇧🇷PT Below ⬇️
ホウホウ!僕は、おトクな物件を見つけるのが大好きなんだ!✨最近見つけた素敵な物件を紹介するね!
ビレッジハウス十六間第二(埼玉県熊谷市)
✅ 教習所(バス停)まで徒歩5分 ✅ フルリノベーションされたお部屋 ✅ エアコン有👉詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!  🇬🇧 Hoot hoot! I love finding great apartment deals! ✨ Allow me to show you my latest discovery: Village House Juurokken Dai 2! It's in Kumagaya-shi, Saitama Prefecture. ✅ 5-minute walk to the Driving School Bus Stop ✅ Renovated ✅ Air Conditioner 👉 Tap the link in our profile to learn more!  🇧🇷 Queente Queente! Eu adoro encontrar ótimas ofertas de apartamentos! ✨ Me permit ate mostrar minha mais nova descoberta: a Village House Juurokken Dai 2! Fica em Kumagaya-shi, na província de Saitama. ✅ A 5 minutos de caminhada do ponto de ônibus da autoescola ✅ Reformado ✅ Ar-condicionado 👉 Clique no link em nosso perfil para saber mais!
Follow on Instagram
GET CONNECTED
Facebook
Instagram
  • COMPANY
  • PRIVACY POLICY

©VILLAGE HOUSE. All rights reserved

Moving to Japan? Things You Should Know About Renting in Japan